INTERNATIONAL SALES

HEAD OFFICE ASIA OFFICE CANNES OFFICE Van Diemenstraat 100 Unit A, 26/F., CKK Commercial Centre 1st floor (Apt. Zanzi) 1013 CN, Amsterdam 289-295 Hennessy Road, 5 Square Mérimée The Wanchai, Hong Kong, S.A.R. Tel: +33 4 93 39 87 31 Tel: +31 20 627 3215 Tel: +852 2311 8081 [email protected] Fax: +31 20 626 1155 Fax: +852 2311 8023 [email protected] [email protected]

INTERNATIONAL PRESS

LONDON CANNES, FRANCE 192-198 Vauxhall Bridge Road DDA Public Relations Ltd London SW1V 1DX Hotel Majestic, Salon Royan 1 Phone: +44 207 932 9800 1st Floor, 10 La Croisette Fax: +44 207 932 4950 E-mail : [email protected] Tiffany Kizito M:+33 6 66 67 70 60 P: +33 (0) 4 97 06 85 15

E-mail : [email protected] www.ddapr.com

www.fortissimofilms.com CREDITS: MAIN CAST: COPYRIGHT NOTICE: written and directed by Borgman Jan Bijvoet Graniet Film, Epidemic, DDF/Angel Films, NTR director of photography Tom Erisman NSC Marina Hadewych Minis production design Geert Paredis Richard Jeroen Perceval TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: editor NCE Stine Sara Hjort Ditlevsen Running Time 113 min music Vincent van Warmerdam Ilonka Eva van de Wijdeven Gauge DCP 2K, 24fps, Color costumes Stine Gudmundsen-Holmgreen Brenda Aspect Ratio cinemascope 1:2.35 make up Marike Willard-Hoogveld Pascal Tom Dewispelaere Sound Dolby Stereo 5.1 sound design Peter Warnier Ludwig Alex van Warmerdam Country of Production The Netherlands/Belgium/Denmark casting Annet Malherbe Year 2013 producer Marc van Warmerdam Genre Thriller coproducers Eurydice Gysel, Koen Mortier, Language Dutch Mogens Glad, Tine Mosegaard Originally Shot on Arri Alexa, prores, log C444 line producer Berry van Zwieten Borgman’s arrival in the tree-lined avenues of an exclusive residential area is the beginning of a series of unsettling events around the carefully constructed facade of a wealthy couple, their three children and the nanny. SYNOPSIS

Three armed men, one of them a priest, are out hunting At another villa Borgman is faced with Richard, a young on. Marina is upset all evening. Feeling ill at ease she Marina’s world of plenty is beginning to crumble; her in the woods. The prey they are after is under their very television producer. When he, too, is about to close the wanders through the house. When she discovers that the reality and her emotions are at the mercy of the stranger feet: a man, unshaven and sordid, who sleeps in an door, Borgman claims that Richard’s wife Marina once wounded Borgman is hiding inside the house she allows in her house, while her husband Richard haunts her underground dug-out of his own making. Borgman has nursed him in the past. Although Marina, when also at the him to have a bath and - without letting her husband dreams at night in the shape of a cruel monster. just woken up when his attackers stick a spear into the door, denies knowing Borgman, Richard cannot control know – arranges a place for him to sleep in the summer ground that narrowly misses his face. He manages to get his jealousy and aggression, and ruthlessly lays into the house in the garden. When Stine comes across the Two emaciated dogs slink through the house, but away and warns his followers who are hiding in similar tramp. He then pushes his startled wife back into the stranger by chance Marina tells her to keep his presence Borgman dismisses them peremptorily: “You have come haunts. They disappear in various directions. house. Borgman remains lying on the lawn, unconscious. a secret. too soon,” he says. In the night, when Stine and the When Marina comes out of the house, intending to look parents are asleep, he tells the children a story about a Borgman walks through the green avenues of a wealthy after the wounded man, Borgman has vanished. The next day Richard tries to make up with his wife for his white child that floats above the clouds. neighbourhood. He rings the bell at a large villa and behaviour with an expensive diamond necklace. Isolde asks the housewife who opens the door if he might have The couple’s three children, Isolde (6), Leo (7) and insists that she has seen a magician but nobody listens to He gets rid of the gardener and summons his followers. a bath. She shuts the door in his face without hesitation. Rebeccan (9), come home from school with their nanny her. And Borgman doesn’t seem to want to leave. Stine. Richard goes to his work where there’s a crisis going The time has come! Director’s Statement

In Borgman I wanted to show that evil comes in everyday form, embodied within ordinary, normal, polite men and women who perform their tasks with pride and pleasure, and with ruthless attention to detail. I wanted to show that evil is enacted not just on cold winter nights, but in the optimistic summer, beneath a warm and comforting sun.

And I wanted to show that a man like Borgman, who continually remains elusive, can intoxicate a woman so fully with desire that she is rendered powerless.

This film is darker than my other films because I wanted to go further. I wanted to descend into an unknown, dark part of my imagination and see what was to be found there. And I wanted to make a film very much open to interpretation, one that raises more questions than it answers.

I think Borgman is a strong film - ask me again in 10 years and I will have forgotten how I ever came to write it - but in my experience there are always things which could be better. Nevertheless I am very curious about how it will be received. And in the meantime I am working on a new film, my ninth film. ALEX VAN WARMERDAM (DIRECTOR / WRITER)

Polymath Alex van Warmerdam (add composer, painter was the first film made with Graniet Film, the company Director’s selected filmography: and designer to his list of skills) was born in the Dutch he set up with brother Marc van Warmerdam in 1993. city of Haarlem in 1952. He studied graphic design Success continued with his 1998 film LITTLE TONY 2010 The Last Days of Emma Blank and painting at Amsterdam’s Gerrit Rietveld Academy which was selected for Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2006 Waiter before he co-founded the Music Theatre company and won for Annet Malherbe the Prize for “Outstanding 2003 Grimm Hauser Orkater (1972) and The Mexican Hound Theatre Screen Performance” at the 1999 Filmfest Ludwigsberg/ 1998 Little Tony Company (1980) with his brother Marc. Between 1978 Stuttgart. The film was also nominated for European Film 1996 The Dress and 1984 he shot a short film and two TV films before Awards in the Best Actress and Best Script categories. 1992 making his feature debut in 1986 with ABEL, which won GRIMM (2003) was selected for San Sebastian and 1986 Abel the Critics Award at the Venice Film Festival. In 1992 he Riga, while WAITER (2006) won both public and critical 1984 De Stedeling [The Townee] (short film) scriptwriter, director, title role made the feature THE NORTHERNERS, which picked up acclaim at international festivals including Toronto. Van 1982 Graniet [Granite] (TV) scriptwriter, actor, design three Felixes (for best film, music and art direction). THE Warmerdam’s THE LAST DAYS OF EMMA BLANK (2009) 1980 Zie de Mannen Vallen [Watch the men fall] (TV) co-scriptwriter, actor DRESS (1996), which sold to more than 25 territories, won Best European Film at Venice, the Best Screenplay 1979 Striptease (short film) co-scriptwriter, actor won both the FIPRESCI Award at Venice and the Dutch Award at the Netherlands Film Festival and Best Film at the 1978 Entree Brussels (short film)co-scriptwriter, actor Film Critics’ Award at the Netherlands Film Festival. This International Film Festival Albania, 2010. Marc van Warmerdam - Producer Job ter Burg - Editor Tom Erisman - DOP

Marc van Warmerdam works extensively both in cinema Born in 1972, Job ter Burg has edited some of the most BORGMAN marks the fourth collaboration between DoP and theatre. In 1973 he co-founded, with older brother important and influential Dutch films made over the past Tom Erisman and director Alex van Warmerdam, having Alex, The Mexican Hound music/theatre company and decade. These include Rudolf van den Burg’s TIRZA, for previously worked together on GRIMM, WAITER and then, in 1980, the Orkater music/theatre company which he won a Golden Calf for Best Editing, Martin THE LAST DAYS OF EMMA BLANK. Previously a gaffer, which he has led since 1988, and in which he both Koolhoven’s WINTER IN WARTIME and ’s Tom has been Director of Photography since 1988 on produces and performs. Each year he presents three to BLACK BOOK, both of which garnered Best Edit numerous features, commercials and TV dramas. Other five productions, some of which are the theatre works of Golden Calf nominations. Other works include Alex van key works include many films made with the late Theo Alex. In 1993 Marc and Alex founded the film production Warmerdam’s THE LAST DAYS OF EMMA BLANK, Peter van Gogh, including LOOS, 06, BLIND DATE and BABY company Graniet Film. Since 2011, Marc has been the Kuijpers’ GODFORSAKEN and ’s SUZY BLUE, and two films shot with Eddy Terstall (TRANSIT chairman of the Netherlands Film Producers Association. Q. His collaboration with Paul Verhoeven continued and WALHALLA). with the 2013 Digital Emma Award-winning THE and the partially crowd- sourced film TRICKED, which was selected for Tribeca 2013. Job is president of the Netherlands Association of Cinema Editors (NCE), which he co-founded.

Jan Bijvoet as Borgman

A Flemish actor born in Antwerp in 1966, Jan Bijvoet graduated from the Herman Teirlinck Institute in Antwerp. His career in theatre has been extensive and successful, and since 2005 he has been one of the Artistic Directors of Theatre Zuidpool, playing in numerous productions including SIBERIË, OORLOG, HOOGLIED, DUS (EEN HEIZELDRAMA), NACHTLIED and COCKFISH. In 2007 he was nominated for the Flemish Cultural Award for the Performing Arts. His film and tv roles include the role of JB in VAN VLEES EN BLOED and the feature film THE BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN by Felix van Groeningen (2013). Together with Hadewig Kras he forms the musical duo Siesta. Hadewych Minis as Marina

In 1999 Hadewych graduated from the Maastricht Theatre Academy. She then moved to New York to study Method Acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute. A regular performer on the Dutch stage, Hadewych has appeared on the big screen many times, including parts in Robert Jan Westdijk’s PHILEINE SAYS SORRY, DEEP by Simone van Dusseldorp, NIGHT RUN by Dana Nechustan, KICKS by Albert ter Heerdt and NADINE by Erik de Bruyn. In 2007 she had the lead role in KILLER BABES by Dick Maas. In 2009 she played in no less than 4 features: AMSTERDAM by director Ivo van Hove, LIFE IN ONE DAY by Marc de Cloe, MY QUEEN KARO by Dorothee van den Berghe and alongside Barry Atsma she had the lead role in psychological thriller TWO EYES STARING by Elbert van Strien. In 2010 she played Maxima in HER MAJESTY directed by Peter de Baan. The same year she starred in Antoinette Beumer’s film LOFT. Later this year the film MANNENHARTEN will be released, for which she again collaborated with Marc de Cloe. Jeroen Perceval as Richard

Born in 1978, Jeroen is a Flemish actor and playwright, the son of actor Luk Perceval. He graduated in 2001 from the Herman Teirlinck Institute. He is best known for his performance as Diederik Maes in the Oscar- nominated BULLHEAD by Michaël R Roskam. Prior to this he had roles in Robin Pront’s short films PLAN B and INJURY TIME, BLUF by Cecilia Verheyden and in Felix van Groeningen’s DAGEN ZONDER LIEF. Perceval also enjoyed guest roles in the Flemish tv series CODE 37, ZONE STAD, DUTS and VERMIST. Sara Hjort Ditlevsen as Stine

Despite her relatively young age, Sara Hjort Ditlevsen (1988) is already an established actress with several strong and memorable performances under her belt, debuting in the TV series PERFORMANCES (DR1, 2007) and then in the comedy series KRISTIAN (TV 2 Zulu, 2009). The same year she debuted on the big screen in Morten Giese’s acclaimed thriller LOVE AND RAGE for which she was nominated for a Danish ‘Bodil’ Award in a Best Supporting Role, along with a Zulu Award, also for Best Supporting Role.

For EXCUSE ME (2012) Sara won the Danish Critics Association ‘Bodil’ for Best Leading Role and was honoured with two nominations: The Danish Film Academy ‘Robert’ Award for Best Leading Role and the ‘Svend-prisen’ for Best Actress. In 2013 moviegoers can also look forward to seeing Sara in Wullenweber’s CLOUD CHAMBER. Also in 2013 she will return in the role of Molly when the second season of the acclaimed comedy series RITA (TV2) will be aired. For her performance in RITA she was nominated with the ‘TV- prisen’ for Best Female Actress in 2012 and received a ‘Robert’ Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a TV-series in 2013.

Sara has just finished filming Bobbie Peers’ DIRK OHM – THE ILLUSIONIST THAT DISAPPEARED, playing the role of Maria. The movie is produced in Norway and premieres in 2014. Right now Sara is attending the National School of Acting at Aarhus Theatre, from which she will graduate in 2016. Production Company

Graniet Film WAITER (OBER, 2006) Official Selection - Toronto International Film Festival The independent film production company Graniet Film was founded in 1993 by producer Marc van Warmerdam Official Selection – Pusan International Film Festival and filmmaker Alex van Warmerdam. Official Selection – Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival Official Selection – Montreal New Cinema Feature films include: Official Selection – Seattle International Film festival THE DRESS (DE JURK, 1996) International Critics Prize (FIPRESCI) - Venice Film Festival THE LAST DAYS OF EMMA BLANK (DE LAATSTE DAGEN VAN EMMA BLANK 2009) Dutch Film Critics Award - Netherlands Film Festival Best European Film - Venice Days/Venice Film Festival Award for Best Feature Film - Potsdam Film Festival, Germany Best Screenplay - Netherlands Film Festival E.J. Jordaan Award - Amsterdam Art Foundation Best Film - International Film Festival Albania 2010 Nominated for Best Male Supporting Role, Best Actor and Best Production Design - Netherlands LITTLE TONY (KLEINE TEUN, 1998) Official Selection - Toronto International Film Festival Official Selection in Un Certain Regard - Cannes Film Festival Nomination for the European Film Awards 1998 for Best Screenwriter BORGMAN (2013) Nomination for the European Film Awards 1998 for Best Actress (Annet Malherbe) Official Selection Competition - Cannes Film Festival Prize for “Outstanding Screen Performance” (Annet Malherbe) -1999 Filmfest Ludwigsberg/Stuttgart

GRIMM (2003) GRANIET FILM BV Official Selection - International Film Festival San Sebastian, Spain Archangelkade 15 Official Selection - International Film Festival Riga, Latvia 1013 BE Amsterdam Skrien film magazine Poster Prize 2004 for the painted GRIMM poster The Netherlands

Tel: + 31 (20) 60 60 630 Email: [email protected]